CM Storm QuickFire XT Review

CM Storm QuickFire XT Review

The last keyboard we saw from Cooler Master's gaming-focussed offshoot, CM Storm, was the QuickFire TK Stealth. It was an unusual keyboard in that it used a non-standard layout and stealth keys, where the symbols are found on the front rather than the top of the keys. Despite a good few weeks of use, we struggled to get to grips with it, and found ourselves yearning for a regular key layout. It did spark a healthy debate on the subject in our forums, highlighting if anything just how subjective an experience keyboards provide, and that there will never be a perfect keyboard for everyone.

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With us today is another in CM Storm's QuickFire range, the QuickFire XT, and unlike the TK Stealth it uses a standard layout, so UK users get a full 105 keys, and the keycaps are also the regular variety, with laser etched symbols on the top face. This lends it the benefit of being instantly familiar, though it's not as small as tenkeyless or TK layout boards. That said, it is about as small as it could be, thanks to a very thin bezel – there's no excess plastic above, below or to the sides of the keys, but if the 440mm width is still too much you'll need to consider layouts that use less keys.

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Despite costing just £65, which is very good considering it uses 105 Cherry MX switches, build quality hasn't been sacrificed. It's not particularly exciting to look at, but the QuickFire XT is sturdy and feels very durable, and it tips the scales at over 1kg. The outer plastic shell is solid and thick, and the keyboard is reinforced by a steel plate too, so there's little bend to it even when you apply excessive pressure. The keys are embedded within the chassis, so it won't be as easy to clean as Corsair's K70, for example, which uses raised keys.

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The braided USB cable with gold plasted connectors is detachable, but there are no cable channels beneath the board. A PS/2 adaptor is supplied, and in this mode the QuickFire XT supports full n-key rollover. No driver or software is required (nor available), but the board runs natively at a 1,000Hz polling rate. Through a combination of the FN key and the keys on the top row of the numpad, this polling rate can switched between four levels (1,000Hz being the maximum), again when using it PS/2 mode.

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As you might expect at £65, the QuickFire XT is thin on additional features; there's no extra connectivity, macro keys or wrist rest. However, the F5-F12 keys each have secondary functions courtesy of the FN key. There are seven media functions, with the F9 key reserved for the locking out the Windows keys, and there's also an LED indicator for when this is activated. Finally, CM Storm also provides a key removal tool along with four red WASD keys and two keys with the Cooler Master/CM Storm logos on, which can be used to replace the two Windows keys.

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When using the QuickFire XT, the four rubber pads on the base along with the keyboard's hefty weight mean it stays firmly planted on your desk, even during frantic gaming sessions. Sadly, however, the two fold out legs on at the back of the keyboard have no grip, and when using them there is more of a risk of keyboard movement. This is something we've seen overlooked before, but even so it's a shame given how easy it is to fix. Nevertheless, the keyboard slopes naturally upwards at a nice angle, and we found typing and gaming to be more comfortable with the legs down.

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Cherry MX blue switches aren't our favourites – the click tends to irritate us and we still find it occasionally difficult to double tap with them, which is particularly noticeable in games. Typing does tend to be quick and smooth, however, thanks to the relatively light actuation force and tactile feedback. Thankfully, CM Storm offers the QuickFire XT with red, brown, black and even green switches, so there's a good chance your preference is catered for. The rounded shape, smooth surface and slick action of the keys themselves also left us with little to complain about in that regard.

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There's no backlight on the QuickFire XT but the bright white etching does make the symbols stand out well and it's not going to fade over time. Therefore, unless you'll frequently be using it in almost total darkness it's unlikely to be too much of a hindrance (it never was for us), though we know this very much comes down to personal preference.

Conclusion

With no extra features of software there's little else left to say about the QuickFire XT. It's well built, handles nicely and is as small as it realistically could be with 105 keys. The option to choose between five switch types is excellent too, and the standard key sizes mean they can all be easily replaced and customised. The design and feature set are hardly jaw dropping, but equally the QuickFire XT does little wrong – the main criticism we have is the lack of grip on the legs, for example. If you need USB 3 ports, audio jacks, backlighting or macro keys, you'll want to look elsewhere, but equally you'd already know that by now. If, on the other hand, you're after a basic and robust mechanical keyboard, the QuickFire XT could be perfect.